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    Cornell Cafe

    4.0 (128 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Cornell Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    CORNELL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cornell Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos - Cornell Cafe

    Jose P.

    During our visit to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, we dined at their on-site eatery, CornellCafé. It is located upon entering the gardens and has plenty of covered seating. Our entrees were: Teriyaki Chicken (Grilled chicken breast with house made teriyaki sauce, served over white rice, and mixed green salad). This chicken was sweet and savory and mixing that delicious teriyaki sauce with the white rice made each forkful scrumptious. The other item was the Steamed Dumplings. Each dumpling was full of vegetables and delicious with the dipping sauce. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Having this on-premise cafe makes your visit much more enjoyable and the convenience is appreciated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Spicy tuna roll, Sapporo Light
    Chuck M.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great outdoor Cafe that just so happens to be located on property of one of the best nature parks in south Florida.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've been visiting Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens for decades. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Cafe is an added treat to highlight your day there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a great place to have a quick snack, adult or non-adult beverage, or sit down for a full meal with your friends and family.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It offers an extensive menu, heavily leaning towards Japanese for obvious reasons. After reviewing the large communal menu, you order your selections at the counter, and pick a table to wait for a food runner to deliver your order. They serve quality food to a high volume of people very efficiently. That is a big win when you've been walking for hours, working up an appetite or thirst. We went with a couple Classic Bento Boxes, a spicy tuna roll, and a frosty Saporo Light. The Bento's were the real deal, offering a broad selection of items. 2 pieces California roll, stir-fry veggies, spring roll, 2 fried shrimp over tofu, teriyaki chicken over fresh white rice, and a generous hunk of teriyaki salmon. The spicy tuna was spot on as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice to enjoy a quality meal while overlooking the Japanese Gardens.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I recommend taking both in the next time you are in the area.

    Amlee S.

    I've been coming to the Morikami for a couple of years and I never stopped by the cafe. Today , is my day off and I decided to take a moment. The food was so fresh! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance, I could've done without because it became really loud really fast but I really loved the fact that they have such a large area outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was pleasant and school-very-cafeteria-food-of-service of them but I appreciated the quickness of it. What I did not like was paying $1 extra for eel AFTER paying for food that was ordered ahead of time and/or the lack of asking before hand and just adding it to the bill. I thought that was silly and of bad taste from a business perspective but It's not unheard of. That was my only teeny tiny qualm with the place.

    Michael M.

    Gonna admit, I didn't have very high hopes for this place. A cafe setting at a botanical garden seemed an unlikely place for great meal, but I was pleasantly surprised. Our bento boxes had a huge variety of great food, our server was friendly was both friendly and attentive, and the scenery was amazing. Two thumbs up and five stars!

    Brews with the views
    Spensyr K.

    The Cornell Cafe is an enjoyable lunch if you happen to be at the Morikami gardens and are hungry, but I wouldn't seek it out specifically just for its food. My love and I tried the bento box. It was a good amount of food for the cost, but nothing on the plate was stand out excellent to me. It was all just nice and satisfying. The view here is the obvious winner! But, stay aware of your plate because the birds here are pretty bold! Service was very friendly and helpful. Especially the food runners. Definitely bring some cash to leave them a tip! We finished off the meal with the cake roll which was sweet and moist. I'd recommend that, but would probably try a different entree if I happened to end up back here again. And I probably will end up here again because the gardens and the exhibits were just lovely!

    Crispy Chicken
    Dave H.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]So, the cafe at Morikami Gardens is much better than years ago, with a huge menu, some yummy bobba teas to choose from, and the same awesome view.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a roofed patio overlooking the grounds, and it looks like there was also an air-conditioned interior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table, and it was all surprisingly tasty! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Be careful outside not to leave your food unattended, though, as the ubiquitous grackles will immediately swoop in and steal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    SAKE!!!!
    Daniela A.

    This has to be hands down one of the best restaurants I've been to lately. Service was phenomenal, the food was fresh and delicious, the sake which was recommended by the woman who attended us was 10/10. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Outside seating provides the wonderful sounds of the garden which makes the experience so much better.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Menu
    KayAnna S.

    Absolutely delicious! My fiancé and I split a bento box and a taro boba milk tea. The taro milk tea was honestly one of the best ones I've had in a while. Not too sweet but definitely taro packed. With the bento box we were able to try many different things. The teriyaki salmon and chicken were my favorite parts! The teriyaki glaze was delicious. The dumplings and egg rolls were still steaming and so yummy. The sushi, tofu, and shrimp were good, nothing spectacular. The rice was sticky and not hard. The sautéed mixed veggies were actually really good and we devoured them quickly. Plenty of seating indoors and outside on the covered patio. The patio also has some ceiling fans making it a little easier to be out there longer. Staff was super friendly and food came out very quickly. Our drinks were given to us as soon as we ordered, before we chose seating. The cafe is yummy and super convenient!

    Chicken gyoza
    Beth S.

    Food=5 Service=5 Prices= 4-5 Ambiance=5 Eating at Cornell cafe is one of our favorite things to do at the Morikami Gardens. We arrived about 2pm and there was a LONG line of about 20+ people waiting to order. I worried that we wouldn't be able to get lunch before they closed. But the line moved very quickly! We were able to order within 10 minutes and find a table. We sat inside, but they had both doors open and a fan on. It was a very windy day and with the fan, it was too much, so we sat in a booth out of the wind blowing through the restaurant. We ordered some pan fried chicken gyoza, a vegetarian bento box, a fried pork entree and a crispy chicken entree. Altogether with a boba tea, and green tea, our bill was $55. Everything comes in To-go containers. Everyone loved their meal. The bento box is a really good deal! I will definitely get that every time I go. We had a bit of leftovers to take home. I highly recommend getting to the Gardens a little earlier and having lunch here. Don't worry if you see a big line. It moves quickly. The restaurant adds to the all around experience of your visit.

    Chicken egg roll
    Ellie W.

    I'm soo disappointment with the Cornell Cafe. After reading all the other reviews I was expecting soo much. We ordered the chicken bowl (which I forgot a picture of) but it was drenched in teriyaki sauce that was so salty I couldn't even eat it. The chicken egg rolls didn't even have enough chicken to be called that. And the gyoza which were cold and sitting in a soy sauce. The boba tea was good I wish the boba balls were actually I'm guessing overcooked but they couldn't even be chewed. Such a disappointment after reading so many reviews. I love going to Morikami but I will defintely eat before I come next time.

    View from the cafe
    Ashley T.

    The service could have been much better considering it was 3pm and the rush had died down. Only appetizer could be purchased when I arrived. Idk if they sold out or no longer served entrees after a specific time. I ordered the Fried Shrimp Shumai for $9. Deep fried crispy shrimp dumplings served with our house made dipping sauce (6 pieces) It was not at all what I expected at all. They looked like scallops to me and didn't taste like shrimp at all. Bad taste and bad price. The rest of the ordered items were lackluster as well. The woman cleaning tables was ready to take away my fifth chair I had just grabbed for my party. The only positive was the view while sitting at the cafe.

    Andi F.

    After paying for your admission to the gardens, you go through the sliding double doors and the restaurant is to your right. You look at the menu and decide what you want, order and pay at the counter and choose your seat, they bring the food to you. Very peaceful setting. Prices are reasonable. I am sure in the warmer months things can get hot. My aunt and I both got the teriyaki salmon and it was quite delicious. Everything was so fresh.

    Carolyn J.

    A-ok in my book. The line was out the door when we got there but it moved very quickly. They sell mochi ice cream which every flavor it was really good. You order your food ahead of time and wait for an empty seat. We ordered the mochi with our food and they wanted us they'd have to give to us now which I was totally fine with - was starving so good appetizer lol. I got chicken and rice and hubby got some sort of pork thing. My chicken was very plain and his pork was more flavorful. I understand they have to cater to a large amount of people though and not everyone wants flavor. lol. All in all, pretty good for what it is and a very pretty view. You do have to pay admission to Morikami to eat here though.

    Traditional bento box

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    Review Insights

    8 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Became Official Morikami members and we come here at least once a month to eat at the cafe. Super nice with incredible views from the cafe.

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    Photo of J M.
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    17 years ago

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cornell Cafe

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    Sashimi appetizer

    Cornell Cafe - japanese - Updated August 2026

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